Ancient Greece Landforms Over Ancient Greece Landforms Over TimeTime

Migrations that Populated Migrations that Populated Greece & Helped to Spread Greece & Helped to Spread

Greek ThoughtGreek Thought

Pottery of Neolithic Pottery of Neolithic PeriodPeriod

Communities of the Neolithic Communities of the Neolithic PeriodPeriod

► 1. The first Neolithic communities lived in densely built settlements 1. The first Neolithic communities lived in densely built settlements and numbered 50-300 individuals. and numbered 50-300 individuals. A. The basic unit of society was the clan or extended family that A. The basic unit of society was the clan or extended family that

consisted of parents, children, grandparents and other close kinship. consisted of parents, children, grandparents and other close kinship. B. Production was shared and did not allow for economic differentiation B. Production was shared and did not allow for economic differentiation

and subsequently social stratification. and subsequently social stratification. C. The role of the woman in Neolithic society seems to have been very C. The role of the woman in Neolithic society seems to have been very

important as evidenced by numerous figurines. important as evidenced by numerous figurines.

► In Late Neolithic an increase in population has been observed, with In Late Neolithic an increase in population has been observed, with subsequent changes in the number and the inner organization of subsequent changes in the number and the inner organization of settlements, as well as in economy. settlements, as well as in economy. A. Hearths and ovens ceased to be commonly used and were constructed A. Hearths and ovens ceased to be commonly used and were constructed

in the interior of houses. in the interior of houses. B. In economy there was specialization in production e.g. in pottery and B. In economy there was specialization in production e.g. in pottery and

jewellery of Spondylus sea-shell (Dimini), while at the same time cultural jewellery of Spondylus sea-shell (Dimini), while at the same time cultural and commercial exchanges developed. and commercial exchanges developed.

C. Objects of social prestige and consisted of: leaf-shaped arrow heads of C. Objects of social prestige and consisted of: leaf-shaped arrow heads of Melian obsidian, jewellery of gold or silver (ring idol pendants, strips of Melian obsidian, jewellery of gold or silver (ring idol pendants, strips of gold), jewellery of Spondylus sea-shell and copper tools. gold), jewellery of Spondylus sea-shell and copper tools.

ArchitectureArchitecture

1. Building materials:1. thick timber posts2. Reeds3. clay (hayclay or mud-bricks)4. stone for the foundations and the upper

structure (walls)5. for roofing: tree trunks, reeds, clay and hay

As communities grew so did the need for more family privacy.

Studying the architecture of a people is the single most important characteristic to understanding how communities grew.

The The EconomyEconomy

1. The economy of the Neolithic Period was based: a. agriculture b. animal husbandry2. Increasing and manipulating production.

1. Transition from the hunting and food-gathering stage to the productive stage of farming and stock-rearing.

2. Took place in the Aegean in the first half of the 7th millenium BC, earlier than in the Balkans and the rest of Europe.

1. cultivated cereals (einkorn, emmer wheat, barley, bread wheat, millet, rye, & oat)

2. pulses (lentils, peas, broad beans, Vicia evilia, chickpeas). 3. Flax and wool for weaving from goats and sheep.

Cultural Aspects of Cultural Aspects of the the

Neolithic PeriodNeolithic Period

The wooden tablet, (5260 BC), is likely to be an early form of written speech as conjectured about similar symbols written on clay, discovered in settlements of the southern Balkans

A woven wool hat and a cup woven from reeds

Jewelry made from metal and animal bone and shells

Metals used: copper, silver and gold

Figurines made of clay were common place

Burial PracticesBurial Practices

1. Three types of burial customs found in Greece: a. Burial of the dead in simple pits in a contracted crouched position

2. Cremation of the dead, partial (Early Neolithic) or complete (Late Neolithic), accompanied by vases, or cremations in which the cremated were in several cases placed in vases.

3. Collecting the bones (skull, thighs, ribs) of the dead individual and burying these beneath the floors of the house.

4. An exception to the burial customs of the Neolithic was the chamber tomb with a

passage (dromos), discovered in the area of the Ancient Agora of Athens and this is the oldest example of its kind in Greece.

5. The dead were accompanied by funerary items, such as pottery, stone tools, animal offerings, while from the Final Neolithic onwards figurines and jewellery

were offered.